Valve



Oct. 10, 1933. c FERNALD 1,929,684

VALVE Filed NOV. 10, 1931 E ge/@7220 Patented oce 'less 1,929,684..

1 VALVE Charles F. Fernald, Weston, Mass, assignor to Barnes & Jones, lncorporated ficston, Mass, l a corporatio'nof Massachusetts;.- p, '1

Application November 1t 1931 I Serial No; 574,109

12 Claims. (01; 2se 5s This invention relates to automatic valves for removable fluid tight cover 9,-the latter being controlling fluids under pressure and pertains here shown as having screw threaded engagement 1 more particularly to improvementsjin the conwith the bodyofthe casing. This casing. with struction of thermostatic valves adapted to reguits cover provides the chamber 11 which comlate the flow'of fluidssubject to temperature and municates with the inlet 7 and, through a valve pressure variations, for example, outlet valves port 12, with the outlet 8'. This chamber houses for steam radiators. In the Patent No. 1,738,248 an automatic 'actuating or controlling element 7 granted to Jones on December 3; 1929, there is consisting for example of one or more expansible disclosed one desirable arrangement whereby the metalcells 14 carrying a valve 15, properly shaped 10 valve actuating element, for example, a metallic to cooperate with the valveseat l6 surrounding bellows or the like-is removably supported with the port 12. As hereshown and inaccordance some-freedom for lateral swing in any direction "with one desirable construct on, the z-cells -14 of in order to enable the valve to seat accurately. the actuator are substantially circular and are While the device disclosed, in the aforesaid patent; attached toa stem which projects below the lower 15 is eminently well adapted to perform its intended mum and to; which the valve 15 is secured. The

function, I findjthat when it is exposed to'sudden upper end ofthe stem projects above the upper shocks or blows, as often-happens during transcell 14 and carries a knob 17 hereshown as a-ball portation or installation, the actuating element/is -or bulbous member' preferably of substantially sometimes released from its supporting means so sphericalcurvature, the center of this knob being that the valve w t pe ate properly. without disposed substantially on the axis or thestem of resetting; furthermore the device disclosed in the actuating element. p said patent issomewhatmore expensiveto manu In. accordance witha preferred construction, facture than is desirable. 1 the cover is provided with a central recess 18 v The present invention which is an improvement having'the surface 18 against which the knob or. '25 over that disclosed in theipatent above referred ball 17 is "normally pressed as hereinafter deto, retains'all of the operative advantages of the scribed. This recess 18 is preferably coaxial with prior "construction, but in addition provides asupthe Valve seatlfi'and its lateral wall is furnished *port for the actuating element and valve which with an annular groove 19'(Fig. 3) which may be -.efi,ectively prevents separation of the parts by formed in any desired manner either in the oper- 7 3O sudden shock or blows (although readily'allowing .ationv of casting the cap or by 'machiningfthe s5 intentional separation) while at :the same time a a may be preferred, This groove 19 fur-. theconstruction is such as to permitit's manufacnishes a seat for a-supporting elementwhich, in ture at a substantially lower costvthan the device its preferred form, is illustrated in;-Figs. 4 and 5. the aforesaid P This supporting device may conveniently be made 35 In the accompanying drawing wherein certain by properly bending a piecev oi -resilient wire,

desirable embodiments of the invention are dispreferably bronze, brother material which is'not Closed y y Of example;v 7 substantially affected by the fluidswhich enter ,Fig; 1 is 'a vertical section through "an outlet the chamber 11; As'sh'own in Fig. 4,'the wire or valve embodying the present invention; other material forming this supporting member 40 Fig. 2 'isa vertical section through the cap or zois-bent to form a plurality oflobes 21 (prefercover of the valve device, with the valvesupport-r ably arcuate) disposed substantially in the same g a d'a la m t e a i plane andwhich are adapted to seat within the Fig.3 is, a View showing the insideof the Valve groove 19. Preferably this supporting member cap or cover with the supporting element apperis provided with a gap at the point 20 to permit taming re in its p iv p sition: it to be contracted slightly in snapping it 1 into Fig. his a planview of a preferred form of supthe groove, although, even if the 'ringelike portion porting element!) f, 7 f this supporting member were continuous it 5) Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the supporting elewould be possible to contract itby'reason of its mem of F 4; and. p lobalshape. The arc'uate portions 21 0f thisde- 50 Figs- 6 and Tare P YiBW Of pp ti e19- vice are separated. by projectingfbends orv loopsrl05.

m'ents of slightly differentconstruction 22 which extend downwardly, ashere shown, from Referring to thedrawing thenumeral 6 desigthe plane of the'parts 21 and which constitute nates the usual valve casing which may be of cast claws fer supportingthe ball 17. LThose claws .iron or'othersuitable material having the inlet preferably converge toward their free ends (or 1 5 connection 7,:thef outlet connection 8 and the 'ifdesiredmay be of curved contour) so thattheir gar-1 the cover by snapping the parts 21 into the groove 19 so that the claws 22 depend into the chamber 11. Since these'claws are resilient, it is possible to push the ball 1'? up into the space between them and as will be noted from Fig. 1, the tips of the claws are so arranged as to engage the ball *2 'at points well below the horizontal plane defining the center or" the ball. As thus arranged, the resilient claws 21 exert a constant upward pressure on the ball 17 such as to force the latter into firm engagement with the surface ls off the cover, having in this respect the same function as the spring ring of the aforesaid patent to Jones. H wever, it is to be noted that the present construction is simpler than that of said patent, since in the patented device it is necessary to pro,- vide an independent retainer member for the spring ring which adds substantially to the cost oi production.

Not only do the claws22 reach downwardly to a point below the horizontal plane of the center of the ball 1'? so as normally to keep the ball in contact with the cover, thus holding the valve at a definite distance from its seat,but preferably they reach down to apoint so far below said plane that even if the actuator device as a whole be accidentally displaced downward (as by a sudden shock) until stopped by engagement or the valve 15 with its seat, the tips of the claws 22 will still contact with the ball- 17 at-a point below the plane passing through-the center of the ball, so that even if thusdisplaced to the maximum possible extent, the ball and actuatorwill immediately be restored to normal position by the reactiveforce of the resilient claws. Thus the improved construction obviates any dangerof accidental dislocation of the valve parts during transportation or installation, although when the cover is renieved the ball with the actuator and valve may readilybedisengaged from the claws 22'by the exertion of downward pull.

While the arrangementshow-n in Figs. .4 and 5 is desirable,such arrangement involving the employment-oithree equally spaced claws 22, I contemplate the employment ofan arrangement such as shown in Fig. 6 wherein four claws 22 withinterposed arcuate members 21 are pro- 'vided, or 'one like that of Fig? wherein two claws zfl separated by the arcuate-portions 21 are used, respectively. Alternately, the several claws may be indepen.dent,gmore or lessresilient, 'claw.

members securely set into the material of the cover, and properly shaped to hold the .ball, 1'? in the sameway asthe claws already described.

1 claim: V

l. A'valve structure comprising a casing having a valve. a removable cover having fluid tight engagement with the casing, an. actuating element within the casing, a valveiixed to the actu ating element and cooperable with said seat, a

V knob attached, to said element, and a plurality .65

of resilient claws adapted to receive the knob be- ,tweentheinand resiliently to hold the knob in engagement with the inner surface ofthe cover member thereby removably to retain the parts in adjusted relat" 'vaive'to center 1 .X-ll upon its seat.

2. A. valve'structure comprising a'casing including a removable cover having fluid tight engagernent with the body of the casing, said casjing'having a valve seat'within 'ityan'actuating element within the casing, avalve securedto the hip while permitting the actuating element and cooperable with said seat, a knob secured to said element, and a plurality of downwardly convergent resilient claws adapted to receive the knob between them and to hold the knob in contact with the inner surface of the cover member.

3. A valve structure comprising a casing including a removable cover having fluid tight engagement with the body of the casing, said casing having a valve seat within it, an actuating element within the casing, a valve secured to the actuating element cooperable with said seat, a knob secured to said element, said knob being 01" spherical curvature, and a plurality of resilient claws depending from the inner surface of the cover, the tips of said 'clawsengaging the knob zontal diameter. 7 1. A valve structure comprising a casing including a removable cover having fluid tight en gagement-with the body of the casing; said casat points below the plane of its maximum hori ing having a valve seat within it, an actuating covensaid claws being so spaced as removably to receive and resiliently to hold the knob between them, the: tips of the claws engagi the knob below the planeoi its maximum diameter.

5. A valve structure comprising a casing in cludinga removable fluid tight cover, the casing tac'ned to the upper end of the actuating element, and supporting means comprising a resilient -mernber having arcuate portions engaging the cover spaced claw'menibers engageable with the .knobfo r removably supporting the latter with the attached actuating-element and valve.

o. A. valve structure comprising a casing inhaving a valve seatwithin it, an actuating ele men-t within the casing, a valve secured to the lower end of the actuating element, a knob atcludinga reinovable'fluid tight cover, the casing having a :valveseat Within it, anactuating elebent to. provide concentric 'lobal portions adapted "for anchoragetoxthe cover member; and claw portions between said lobal portions, saidclaw portions being adapted releasablyto engage the knob for supporting the l tt with the actuator and valve. g

- :7. A valve structure comprising a casing including a removable fluid tightcoven the casinglhav- V .rnent within the casing, a valve secured to the lowa valveseat withinit, an actuating element within thercasing, a valve secured to the lower end of the actuating element, a ball-attached to the upper endkoi the actuator element, the cover havfies ing an annular groove concentric with the'axisof the valve seat,- anda supporting deviceconsisting of a resilient snapjring adapted to seat in said groove and having depending claws for embracing actuator and valve. J 8. A valve structure comprising a casing including a removable fluidtightcover, the casing hava valve seat within it, an actuating element within the'casing, a valve secured to the lower end i the actuating element, a knob secured to the upper end of the actuatingeleznent, vsaid'knob having an under surface which slopes upwardly and'outwardly, to a point of maximum diameter,

140. removably supporting the ball with its at- V 1,929,984 from the point of attachment of the knob tofthe actuating element, a device carried by the cover for supporting'the knob with its'actuator and' valve, said supporting device comprising means constituting a universal bearing in which the knob is free to, rock in all directions wherebythe" valve may center itself on its seat,'said bearing means comprising relatively yieldable resilient portions engaging the sloping under surfaceof the knob in a plane spaced-below the plane or maximum diameter of the knob a distance substanponent of the resilientpressure sufiicient to restore the actuator and valve to normal position 9. A valve structure comprising a casing including a removable fluid tight cover, the casinghaving a valve seat within it, actuating means within the casing, a valve secured to the actuating means for cooperation with the valve seat, a ball attached to the actuating means, the cover having a central 7 recess in which the upper part oi the ball is disposed, the side wall of the recess having a circum- 'bers converging toward their tipsy ferential groove therein in a planet above the center of the ball, a supporting-device seated in said recess and having downwardly extending resilient elements engaging the ball in a plane below center and forming a bearing in which the ball may rock freely in all directions, said resilient elements being operative to engage an upward restoring force to" return the ball to normal position in the recess if the ball is accidentally displaced downwardly therefrom.

actuating, element and cooperabletwith the seat, a

distance which separates the valve and its seat '10; A valve structure comprising a casing having a valve seat, a'removable cover having fluid tight engagement with the casing, an actuating element within the casing, a valve secured to the ball securedto the actuating element, and means carried by the cover constituting a supporting bearing in which the ball is free to swing whereby the valve is enabled to center itself with reference to its seat, said supporting bearing comprising relatively yieldable resilient portions engaging the ball in a plane spaced below the center of the latter by a distance substantially greater than the when the actuator. is exposed to normal atmos- 9O .pheric' conditions, the resilient portions of the bearing being so constructed and arranged as to continue to engage and exert pressure against the under'surface ofthe ball below the plane of the center of the latter even if the actuator and valve are displaced downwardly to the maximum pos- 'sible extent as limited by engagement of thevalve,

with its seat; the slope of the under surface of the ballat the contact point being such as to develop a vertical component of the resilient pressure suflicient to restore normal position. V

11. A supporting device for use in valves of the class described, said device comprising a resilient the actuator andvalve to member havingspaced lobalportions disposed substantially in a plane and interposed claw members projecting fromsaid plane, said claw mem- -12. A supporting device for use in valves of the class described, said device comprising an elongate piece of resilient material bent to form a split snap ring comprising spacedarcuate portions and interposed loopsforming claws projecting to one side of the plane of said arcuate portions and having their tips disposed closertogether than 

